around Lynchburg, around Virginia and
indeed around the world. As thousandas
of people are just now learning of the
death of the Reverend Jerry Falwell.

More than two years after he nearly
died of heart problems, Falwell's
doctors say that is likely what he died
of today.
LYNCHBURG DOUBLE BOXES=J&K/Smallshaw DOUBLE BOXES

STARLINK We have reporters covering this story
from many angles. Let's start with
Lynchburg Bureau chief Steve Smallshaw
who was at the hospital earlier today
when officials delivered the news of
Dr. Falwell's death.

Steve what can you tell us about the
events of this morning.
LIVE=SMALLSHAW FULL LIVE FULL
*CG live Steve Smallshaw
ssmallshaw@wdbj7.com
Lynchburg ROLLCUE: 12:40 this afternoon.
SOT FULL SOT FULL
INQ=

found unresponsive in his office,
people started to flock to the Thomas
Road Baptist Church to pray.
DOUBLE BOXES=J&J/Joe Dashiell LYNCHBURG DOUBLE BOXES

MICROWAVE Joe Dashiell was at the church this
afternoon. He joins us now from our
Lynchburg Bureau.

Joe, what was the atmosphere like at
the church?
LIVE=JOE FULL LIVE FULL
*CG live Joe Dashiell
jdashiell@wdbj7.com Jean, certanly a somber and
Lynchburg reflective mood... as students and
other members of the Liberty University
and Thomas Road Baptist Church
Community waited for confirmation of
the news that had already spread across
campus.

Dr. Ron Godwin, the chief
operating officer of Liberty said he
had had breakfast with Falwell 8:30, a
conversation he described as full of
vision and plans for the future... that
included discussion of the leadership
transition

Falwell returned to his office,

and it was there he was found
unconscious after colleagues realized
he had missed a meeting
ENG=1 SOT FULL
SOT FULL

INQ=But I can tell you this...

*CG 2line Dr. Ron Godwin
Liberty University BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS... A FRIEND AND
A LEADER.

I JUST WNAT YOU TO KNOW.... WHEN HE WAS
NOT IN CRISIS.
RUNS=27 (END SOT)

OQ=when he was not in crisis.

VO NAT VO NAT

The gathering this afternoon
included prayers for Falwell's family,
for the Liberty University and Thomas
Road Baptist Church.

But speakers also indicated that
the school is secure, that Jonathan
Falwell and Jerry Falwell Junior are
now at the helm...

And that Falwell's vision is
secure.
LIVE= LIVE FULL
*CG liveloc Lynchburg

Liberty officials were quick to

say this was not a memorial service, or
a funeral... it was a gathering at
which they wanted to make a formal
announcement and ask for the prayers of
the liberty Uniuversity community.

They said more information will
be coming about funeral arrangements
and other memorials.

DOUBLE BOXES= (DOUBLE BOXES)

Jean, We also spoke with students
afterwards who said they were shocked,
but also relying tonight on their
religious faith, and we'll hear more
fro

Microwave Richmond Bureau Chief Jennifer
Wishon spoke with some of them today.
LIVE=Jennifer LIVE FULL
*CG live Jennifer Wishon
jwishon@wdbj7.com Jean and Keith, As public
Richmond servants, leaders here in Richmond

admire Reverend Falwell's passion for
serving people in need-- and his
undying vision for the future of his
church and university.
ENG#=2 SOT FULL

SOT FULL

INQ=He has cast a pretty....

*CG 2line Gov. Tim Kaine
:00

*CG locator Lynchburg
1992
:06

*CG 2line Bob McDonnell
VA Attorney General
1:10

RUNS=1:26 (END SOT)

OQ=admire him for that. <<
SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=He has cast a pretty ... 16:57 TIM KAINE: HE HAS CAST A PRETTY

SIGNIFICANT SHADOW IN VIRGINIA OVER THE
LAST 20 YEARS. 05
RUNS05 (END SOT)

OQ=over the last 20- years. In fact, few modern Virginians

have been more visible in national

politics longer than Jerry Falwell.

Even those who don't agree with
his political ideologies hold him in
respect... admiring his tireless work
to expand his church-- reaching people
across the globe and as an educator at
Liberty University.

Afterwards the two had lunch... a
meeting Kaine remembers well.
SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=I mean, he had been very ill... 17:08 GOV. TIM KAINE: I MEAN HE HAD

BEEN VERY ILL, BUT I WAS STRUCK BY HOW
FORWARD THINKING HE WAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT
THE NEXT PLAN WAS AND WHAT HE HAD THAT
HE STILL WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH WITH
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY 09 AND YOU KNOW, IN
SOME WAYS CHARACTERTIC OF THAT I MEAN
HE WAS IN THE OFFICE WORKING FOR THE
UNIVERSITY WHEN HE DIED IT WILL BE A
BIG LOSS.
RUNS17 (END SOT)

OQ=will be a big loss. Kaine calls Falwell's life a

"remarkable story"... one that had
humble beginnings, but blossomed in
Lynchburg, the place the spent his

entire life.

As someone who had strong beliefs
with a mighty pulpit, Falwell's
thoughts and actions invited criticism
at times.
SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=But I think when people measure.... 24:55 BOB McDONNELL: BUT I THINK WHEN

PEOPLE MEASURE THE MAN HE WILL BE
REMEMBERED AS A MAN WHO WAS VERY GOOD.
A VERY GOOD, GREAT EDUCATOR, A GREAT
RELIGIOUS LEADER AND A PERSON WHO
WASN'T AFRAID TO STAND ON PRINCIPLES
THAT HE BELIEVED IN DEEPLY AND SERVE
HIS FELLOW MAN IN THE PROCESS. I
ADMIRE HIM FOR THAT. 16
RUNS16 (END SOT)>>

OQ=I admire him for that.

LIVE=Jennifer LIVE FULL
*CG liveloc Richmond

General McDonnell says he's also
grateful for the work Falwell did in
politics... getting people of faith
interested in who represents them in
government... and
DOUBLE BOXES= & Jennifer DOUBLE BOXES

Keith and Jean, encouraging them
exercise their rights putting their
faith into action.

We've taken a look back at his 50-year
long career in the ministry.
ENG=3 SOT FULL

SOT FULL

INQ=Jerry Falwell began gathering

RUNS=3:05 (END SOT)

OQ=would be his greatest legacy. <<

(END SOT) Jerry Falwell began gathering his flock

almost fifty years ago. Ordained in
1956, he founded Thomas Road Baptist
Church with 35 charter members and
built a congregation that is now more
than 20- thousand strong.

[NAT SOUND OF MUSIC OVER OPEN OF OLD
TIME GOSPEL HOUR S-48 32:21]

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=By standing ...BY STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF

GOD...
RUN 06 (END SOT)

OQ=on the promises of God.

First on radio and soon after on
television, Falwell began broadcasting
his services, and by the mid-70s the
Old Time Gospel Hour had a national
audience.

[SOUNDBITE FROM OLD TIME GOSPEL HOUR]

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ=We're living in a world of WE'RE LIVING IN A WORLD OF TRANSITION,
transition CHANGES. IN MY 45 YEARS OF LIFE, THE
WHOLE WORLD SEEMINGLY HAS COMPLETELY
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
RUNS= (END SOT)

OQ=has completely turned upside down.

By the end of the decade, he had formed
the Moral Majority, among the first
political organizations to harness the
power of the religious right. The
group was credited with helping to
elect Ronald Reagan and other
conservatives.

SOT REAGAN S-116 @ 1:37:40 SOT FULL

INQ=I have always believed RONALD REAGAN: I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED

THAT THE HALLS OF GOVERNMENT ARE WELL
NIGH AS SACRED AS THE CHURCHES, THE
TEMPLES, THE SYNAGOGUES, THE CATHEDRALS
OF OUR RELIGIONS.

RUN=10 (END SOT)

OQ=the cathedrals of our religions.

Falwell went to court in 1981 when
Penthouse Magazine published an
interview which the preacher said was
obtained under false pretenses.

And again in 1984, after Hustler
Magazine ran an ad parody depicting
Falwell as a drunk who enjoyed sex with
his mother

SOT FULL MY TAPE @ 1:30:35 SOT FULL

INQ= THIS COURT WILL DECIDE WHETHER ALL

PUBLIC FIGURES, THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES, THE POPE OF ROME AND
OTHERS CAN BE MASSACRED BY PERSONS WHO
HAVE NO REGARD FOR HUMAN FEELINGS,
FAMILY AND GET BY WITH IT.
RUN=11 (END SOT)

OQ=

The case would go all the way to the
U.S. Supreme Court, but Falwell's
defamation lawsuit would ultimately
fail.

Three years later he took the plunge at
Heritage USA, and took over the
scandal-ridden PTL ministry from Jim

and Tammy Bakker.

In recent years, controversial comments
kept him in the spotlight. Some like a
1999 statement that the Antichrist is a
Jew, brought apologies...

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= MANY THOUGHT THAT WAS ANTI-SEMITIC AND

I CERTAINLY APOLOGIZE IF THAT LEFT THAT
IMPRESSION.
RUN= (END SOT)

OQ=

While others, like the website warning
suggesting a teletubby character was
gay, Falwell argued were blown out of
proportion.

SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= WE HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH IT. I STILL

DON'T KNOW IF TINKY WINKY IS GAY OR NOT
AND I WOULD NEVER SAY IF HE WAS OR
WASN'T, OR SHE WAS OR WASN'T, WHATEVER
THE CASE IS.
RUN= (END SOT)

OQ=

Falwell clashed with supporters of
homosexual rights, and then became a

target of anti-gay protestors
himself...

NAT SOUND OF PROTESTORS
SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= YOU WILL BURN IN HELL UNLESS YOU REPENT

RUNS= (END SOT)

OQ=

when he invited members of the group
Soulforce to discuss their differences
at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

[INTERVIEW FROM 99-44 10:34]
SOT FULL SOT FULL

INQ= AND I'VE MADE NO BONES ABOUT IT, MY

ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BRING THEM OUT OF
THE LIFESTYLE AND TO THE LORD, BUT I'M
GOING TO LOVE THEM REGARDLESS.
RUNS= (END SOT)

OQ=

But even as Falwell was making national
headlines, he continued to lay the
groundwork for a growing local
presence.

The small bible college that started
with 154 students in the fall of 1971,
grew into a university claiming more
than 17- thousand.

Just last year he talked with us
about his near death experiences and
how they changed his life..
Roll Healthcheck Animation Roll Healthcheck Animation
TWO SHOT=Jean & Ketih/Joy JOY & Jean & Ketih TWO SHOT

Tonight Joy Sutton takes a look
back in this health check 7 report-

Jean & Ketih--

With two brushes with death,
Falwell told us he was making changes
to his lifestyle -- even cutting back
his 16 hour a day work schedule in
half.
LIVE=Joy Full Joy FULL
*CG standup Joy Sutton
jsutton@wdbj7.com He also said he was eating
better, and walking more everyday.

And although he pulled through
other times ...this time there was
nothing the doctors could do to save
him.

Over the last two years of his
life, the Reverend Jerry Falwell spent
his share of time in the hospital.

First in February of 2005 a
12-day bout with pneumonia. He was
placed on a ventilator because the
simple act of breathing was difficult.

Then a month later he came close to
dying of congestive heart failure. He
actually lost consciousness for several
minutes after going into respiratory
arrest. Then July of 2005 he went to
the Cleveland clinic Heart Center. His
family said he was getting a chemical

stress test and possibly heart
cauterization.

Later that year doctors did find a
70-percent blockage in an artery
--which they opened up with stents.

But through it all Falwell seemed
to bounce back to the health and the
pulpIt. When we sat down with him last
year -- he told News 7 he'd asked God
for another 15 years with an option to
renew.
SOT FULL

NEARLY DYING TWICE... PASSING THE
MANTLE.
(END SOT)

Falwell said he wanted to live long
enough to achieve his goal of enrolling
25-thousand student at Liberty
University
TWO SHOT=Jean and Keith/Joy JOY/Jean & Ketih TWO SHOT

Jean & Ketih --

Liberty University currently has
about 17-thousand students --so he was
on his way to reaching that goal.

Falwell's physician says it will
be up to the family if they want to do
autopsy to determine the exact cause of
death.

at least to many High School Athletics
and those in around the Radford
Community. The Virginia High School
League and Radford University announced
today they have exptended their
agreement to host the Spring Jubilee,
where State Championships are crowned
in the Single "A" and Double "A" levels

in Spring Sports two more years.
ENG#=1 SOT FULL

SOT FULL

INQ=

*CG 2line Penelope Kyle
Radford University President

RUNS=21 (END SOT)

OQ=were very pleased.

VO-NAT VO-NAT

This Year's Spring Jubilee will
be held from June 7th through June 9th.
(END VO) (END VO)

appreciation dinner next Monday night
at the Salem Civic Center still has
tickets available for those of you
looking for great night of
off-the-court basketball entertainment.
ENG#=2 VO-NAT
VO-NAT

*CG locator Charlottesville
March 1st The organizers of the event have
just confirmed that all three of J.R.'s
coaches will be in attendance on Monday
as Dick Wall, Oak Hill's Steve Smith
and UVA's Dave Leitao each join in the
celebration.

The public is invited to attend
and tickets are $25 dollars in advance.
That covers the program and a meal at
the Salem Civic Center.

Those tickets are available at
Member One credit Union branches, but
you must get them by this Friday.
(END VO) (END VO)

APCO requested a 25.4
percent increase about a year ago, and
has been collecting the money on an
interim basis.

But today's approval by the
S-C-C allows just a 3.1 percent
increase.

Additionally, APCO will have
to begin charging the lower rate within
30-days and make refunds with interest
within 90-days. Those refunds will
will appear as a credit on your bill.
KEITH & JEAN ON CAM ANCHOR ON CAM
GRAPHIC=None The commission noted that

for spiritual awakening..." THE BAPTIST
MINISTER GREW TO PROMINANCE, PREACHING
ON TV AND RADIO ON THE "OLD TIME GOSPEL
HOUR" AND "P-T-L." FROM THERE HE MOVED
TO THE POLITICAL ARENA, FOUNDING THE
MORAL MAJORITY WHICH RAISED MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS FOR CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS
AND HAS BEEN CREDITED WITH HELPING
ELECT RONALD REAGAN IN 1980. THE GROUP
DISSOLVED IN 1989, BUT BOOSTED BY THE
RESULTS OF THE 2004 ELECTION, FALWELL
BEGAN A NEW GROUP CALLED THE FAITH AND
VALUES COALITION. ITS MISSION: TO FIGHT
FOR ANTI-ABORTION RIGHTS JUDGES ON THE
SUPREME COURT, A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT BANNING SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND
ANOTHER CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENT IN 2008.
(sot Falwell) "We're working towards

those goals of getting our people
mobilized." FALWELL ALSO FOUNDED A
SCHOOL... LIBERTY UNIVERSITY... IN
1971. BASED IN HIS HOMETOWN, LYNCHBURG,
VIRGINIA, IT AIMS TO PRODUCE
"CHRIST-CENTERED" MEN AND WOMEN.
FALWELL'S OUTSPOKENESS SOMETIMES LED TO
CONTROVERSY. HE ATTACKED FEMINISTS,
GAYS AND LESBIANS AND THE A-C-L-U,
SAYING THEIR ACTIONS HELPED BRING ON
THE SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACKS. HE LATER
APOLOGIZED. IN 1988 HE TOOK LARRY
FLYNT'S HUSTLER MAGAZINE TO COURT - AND
LOST. AND IN 1999 HE DENOUNCED THE
TELETUBBIES, ACCUSING THE CREATORS OF
MAKING ONE OF THE CHARACTERS GAY.
FALWELL HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED TWICE
RECENTLY. (nat sot Falwell: "God Bless,

Falwell had on politics and the
Republican party, White House Spokesman
Tony Snow said this wasn't a time to
talk politics.
ENG#=2 SOT FULL
SOT FULL

INQ=He died

*CG 2line Tony Snow
White House Spokesman He died suddenly this is the kind of
thing that's going to be a shock to
those who love him and were around him
and I think the proper attitude at this
juncture is to pass on condolences and
prayers.))
RUNS=:13 (END SOT)

minister nonetheless, often came under
fire for publicly commenting on
controversial topics - everything from
global warming to abortion.

On September 11th, he declared
the terrorist attacks were God's way of
removing his protection from America.

Here's more of that interview
with Christianne Amanpour .
ENG#=1 SOT FULL

SOT FULL 00:18 HERE'S WHAT I SAID, I SAID
INQ= THAT PEOPLE WERE RESPONSIBLE AND MUST

TAKE THE BLAME FOR IT. (REPORTER) WE'RE
KILLING A MILLION BABIES A YEAR BY
ABORTION. UNTIL THREE WEEKS AGO
PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION LEGAL IN THIS
COUNTRY. WE ARE PROMPTING A NEW
DEFINITION IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ALLOWS
FOR POLYGAMY FOR GAY MARRIAGES ETC.
PROMOTING THAT. IT'S NOT THERE YET. I
SAID IT THEN AND I'LL SAY IT NOW THAT
IF WE INFACT AND I BASE THIS ON
PROVERBS 14:34, IF WE DECIDED TO CHANGE
ALL THE RULES ON WHICH THIS
JUDEO-CHRISTIAN NATION WAS BUILT, WE
CAN NOT EXPECT THE LORD TO PUT HIS
SHIELD OF PROTECTION AROUND US AS HE
HAS IN THE PAST". 01:02
RUNS=44 (END SOT)

unwavering opinion on Roe v Wade - a
1973 landmark case in which the Supreme
Court ruled that a woman has a
constitutional right to an abortion

during the first six months of
pregnancy.
ENG#=2 SOT FULL

SOT FULL :04 "I AM WORKING VERY HARD TO
INQ=I AM WORKING.... OVER TURN ROE V. WADE AND BRING IT BACK

TO THE STATES WHERE WE WERE BEFORE
1973... I BELIEVE THE UNBORN ARE THE
LAST DISENFRANCHISED MINORITY... WELL
ITS TAKEN US 30 YEARS TO GET A 5-4
COURT ON SOME TYPES OF ABORTION... I
DON'T THINK WE HAVE 5 VOTES ON ROE V.
WADE. THAT MAY TAKE ANOTHER COUPLE OF
YEARS, BUT WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT."
01:05
RUNS=1:05 (END SOT)

shy away from the tough subjects,
Falwell also never turned down an
opportunity to comment on his beloved
university....and why he needed God to
grant him a little more time to finish
his life's work.
ENG#=3 SOT FULL

SOT FULL :03 "I NEED ABOUT 20 MORE YEARS

INQ=I NEED ABOUT.... TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT MY VISION FOR THE

UNIVERSITY IS. I NEED AT LEAST ANOTHER
20 YEARS. THAT'S WHAT I'M PRAYING. THE
BIBLE HAS A STORY ABOUT A MAN WHO IS
DYING AND HE ASKED GOD FOR 15 YEARS AND
HE GOT IT. SO I'M PRAYING FOR THE SAME
THING WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW.... WE
WANT A HUGE MAJOR EVANGELICAL
UNIVERSITY. WE ARE STARTING OUR
ENGINEERING SCHOOL THIS FALL. WE ARE
STARTING OUR LAW PROGRAM, MEDICAL
SCHOOL. WE HAVE A 5-THOUSAND ACRE
CAMPUS. WHEN I USE THE TERM PIT-BULL I
MEAN TENACIOUS... I WANT TO STUDENTS TO
KNOW WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND WHY THEY
BELIEVE IT. I BELIEVE AMERICA WAS BUILT
ON THE JUDAEO-CHRISTIAN ETHIC... I WANT
TO SEE AMERICA RETURNED TO THE
JUDEAO-CHRISTIAN ETHIC." 01:05
RUNS=1:02 (END SOT)

the 73-year-old in what would be our
final interview with him.
ENG#=4 VO-NAT

VO-NAT

*CG locator Lynchburg
February 26, 2007 Falwell was speaking to his
congregation about global warming.

The pastor believed global
warming in itself was a myth created by
the United Nations, liberal
politicians, and radical
environmentalists.

Furthermore, he accused them of
using global warming as a way to
distract the public from more pressing
issues.

One of those issues Falwell
claims was the idea that America was
"morally bankrupt".
ENG#=1 SOT FULL
SOT FULL

INQ=I DON'T BELIEVE....

*CG 2line Jerry Falwell
Commenting on Global Warming (see first byte in pkg) "I
DIDN'T BELIEVE IT IN 1970 THAT WE HAD
GLOBAL COOLING ON TOP OF US AND THAT AN
ICEAGE WAS EMINENT AND I DON'T BELIEVE
THIS.

***please insert a cut-away before
butting this byte***

(see second byte in pkg) "GLOBAL
WARMING IS NOT DUE TO HUMAN CO-2. THIS
SO CALLED FACT IS THE GREATEST
DECEPTION OF THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE.
RUNS=21 (END SOT)

OQ=HISTORY OF SCIENCE

VO-NAT VO-NAT

Falwell did admit that the
earth's temperature has increased
somewhat over the past 30 years, but
not to the extent many believe.
(END VO) (END VO)

County need your help in finding a dog
who may have been infected with rabies.

The dog got into a fight Friday
morning and killed a raccoon --that
later turned out to be rabid.

Pet owners who live in the Villa
Heights area of Martinsville are urged
to keep their pets inside or confined
until the dog is found. The dog is
described as a white Pomeranian
mixed breed. Rabid animals can transmit
the disease to people. In humans, it's
almost always fatal if not treated.
END VO END VO

The battle to contain a massive
wildfire in northern Florida is being
hampered once again by the weather.

Sot: Tom Speaks/Deputy Incident
Commander (10:07:36)

Today is the same thing, going to have
this weather, lower humidity, higher

temperatures and wind so we are
expecting the same kind of push and
problems today.

(natz fire)

Gusty winds on Monday pushed the blaze
over containment lines on western side
of the fire. The breach forced several
hundred homes to be evacuated, some for
the second time this week. But so far,
most property has been protected.

(karen brown, Lake City , Fl)

One thing that is making this fire so
difficult to contain is that its raging
through swamp land which means the
heavy machinery like this can't get in
deep enough to get in front of the
flames"

Sot: Tommy Dunn/Firefighter

can t get where we need to be.

Tommy Dunn and his team have been
working almost non-stop.

Sot: dunn

16 to 18 hour days

Fatigue is also becoming a major factor
for over 500 hundred firefighters on
the front lines.

Sot: Speaks again (10:14:43)

we re talking about record droughts,
incredible fuel loadings on the ground,

weather hasn t been helping one bit, so
our resources are getting tired.

Authorities say what they need most is
rain. Scattered thunderstorms are in
the forecast over the next few daysbut
it will probably take more than thatto
douse the giant wildfire that has
already consumed more than 300 thousand
acres.